Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) yesterday said it found expired medicines in 93 percent of the pharmacies in the capital where it conducted drives over six months.

Monjur Mohammad Shahriar, deputy director of DNCRP, unveiled the findings at a discussion held at AKM Giasuddin Milky Auditorium in Khamarbari yesterday.

During mobile court drives at 200 pharmacies in different areas of Dhaka between November 2018 and April 2019, the national consumer rights body found some 186 stores guilty of having medicines in stock which were past their expiry dates.

Bangladesh Supermarket Owners’ Association organised the event marking World Food Safety Day, observed on June 7.

“I fear that the situation of the entire country is worse, as whatever irregularities we have found so far happened in Dhaka only,” he said, while talking to The Daily Star.

DNCRP awarded different amounts of fine to pharmacy owners, and sealed some of the stores on a temporary basis, he added.

It also informed the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) about the situation and had several talks with the pharmacy owners’ associations in this regard.

“We tried our best to make the pharmacy owners aware through the talks. As a result of that, I believe the situation is improving gradually,” said Monjur.

He also said they directed drugstores to keep the expired medicine separated from other drugs and put “Not for Sale” tags on the packets.

“After we shared the findings, DGDA questioned whether the data were correct. We conducted another drive in April and found 20 pharmacies of the total 21 keeping expired medicine,” Monjur said.

Speaking at the event, supermarket owners urged the government not to fine any trader irrationally, as it would tarnish their hard-earned image.

Supermarket Owners Association President Niaz Rahim and General Secretary Zakir Hossain, among others, spoke at the event.

Contacted, Director General of DGDA Maj Gen Md Mahbubur Rahman said such incidents can happen when pharmacy owners delay in sending back expired medicines to the pharmaceutical companies, adding that DGDA has instructed pharmacy owners’ associations to ensure that it is done promptly, and that expired medicines are kept separately and labelled “not for sale”.